Monday, 19 March 2012
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Friday, 27 January 2012
Digi Pack
The Digi pack presents the band as being involved with their music displaying images of the lead singer singing and setting up his microphone. The expressions on the band members' faces show a contemporary mood of slight distance from the world, seemingly quirky and having their own agenda. The clothing the band members are wearing is down to earth and casual, these clothes are also worn in the video and on the poster creating a recurring sense of style. The small ghostly like cartoon on the guitarist's shirt and the lead singer's wrist bands demonstrate a kind of punk element. The set is unpretentious and straightforward, showing they are more passionate about their music than their public image.The faded, collaged images are creatively experimental, and the images of Camden, clocks, grafitti and the tube map are iconic symbols of London. This is another boost for the band as they are seen as part of London's culture and its well known music scene. The pictures of Camden project the band's youth as Camden is known for being a hot spot for experimental teenagers. The images on the Digi pack are darkly coloured giving the band this underground feel. This album cover has echoes of a young newly signed band, similar to 'The Beatles' when they first arrived on the music scene. The body language on the front of the CD cover suggests that they are determined and centred. The amps, microphones and drums which are shown in the images, make the band look hardworking and dedicated to the music they create. The font is varied and is strongly coloured which is modern eye-catching and constrasting because its unusual. The font has a rough feel as it looks as if it has been cut out of magazines and reassembled to make different worlds and styles. This is similar to the music video that has several different effects and images edited next to each other. Like the music too it's a mix of genres, like 80s pop, indie and rock.
Magazine Advertisement
The font and style of writing I used for the poster is similar to the writing used on the Digi pack; I was aiming for something which suggested an alternative edge, for example the record company label has a retro feel and could be something that you could have seen in the '80s or '90s. "Generation Records Presents" is outlined in purple and draws the eye in as it's the only colour used. The text underneath is bolder,bigger and more modern which creates a statement and highlights the band's name suggesting they are a group to watch out for. The font is aggressive because of its size, therefore projecting teenage 'in yer face' anger. The darkness of the font echoes the mood of the band and their music.The name of the song is in smaller font above the band's name and is similarly reflected in white below. This upside down reflection has a disorientating effect, again lending a more modern edge to the band.
The aggressive type face and urban wall is balanced out with the ordinariness of the lead singer's appearance.
The poster features quotations from well known, reputable music magazines such as 'NME' and 'Kerrang'. Because of the music these magazines are associated with it lends the band authenticity, and the postitive reviews will help to increase sales and convince the public of their talent.
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Mock up of Digi Pack and CD Cover
The shots I used on the rest of the digi pack are of the band behaving naturally instead of posed like most artists' digi packs. The reason I chose this type of look is because I want the band to appear laidback and carefree. The shots that I use on the digi pack will be edited so that the colour appears faded; an alternative idea to this is having all the shots in black and white. Both these effects will create a rough and edgy effect which is part of the band's image. The title of the band will be written in a dark yellow font similar to the font on the cover of Nirvanas' 'Lithium' album , this font will also be used on the magazine advert, and on the CD itself. I also liked the dark colours on the 'Lithium' album and that inspired me to use a dark yellow and black colour scheme. I really like the idea of collages , and thought this would be an interesting and unusual design choice. I decided I wanted to feature some collages of the band on the back of the digi pack , where the lyrics of the songs are written. For the digi pack most of the pictures I have chosen show the band as being united and together, however I still wanted to keep the concept of the lead singer as being more of an outsider then the rest of the band. Therefore some of the images show the lead singer as being slightly distant from the other band mates; the cover of the CD shows the lead singer alone, hinting that he is more isolated. The CD itself is dark yellow with the same Nirvana-inspired font. The name of the band will go around the CD following its shape, getting smaller as it gets nearer to the centre of the CD. This look is abstract , slightly surreal and quirky. Most of the pictures featured on the digi pack have the brick wall of the basement where the music video was shot in the background. The brick wall was important to show because it makes the band appear trapped and is also slightly rough, urban and unpretentious, which matches the band's attitude.
Magazine Advertisement
The magazine advertisement has a thin black border around the edges to make it look official and neat. The font will be the same font on the digi pack, again creating brand identity. For the image on the magazine advertisement I wanted to use a shot that was not featured in the music video. The shot features the band and some groupies walking down the street in Gospel Oak with the lead singer Rowan slightly ahead of the group. The reason I chose this image is because the roads are clear, making the band appear more isolated; the expression on Rowans face is carefree and he looks effortlessly cool. His distance from the band make him appear strong and confident therefore making his music appear more interesting. The rest of the band and the groupies look youthful and happy , which sells the music more as it gives the viewer the impression that this is how they will feel when they listen to the music. Underneath the band's name are quotes from famous alternative rock magazines such as 'Kerrang' and 'NME' , saying about how they feel about the band's album. This makes the music much more desirable, as it has been proved popular by well known media sources. Below the image is the title of the song in bold; this makes the song more recognisable, and also gives the viewer a sneak preview into what the song's meaning is. The houses in the background of the street where the band stands make the setting appear urban and make the band appear "street savvy" and slightly rebellious as they wander around in a gang through the streets of London. During the music video shoot I experimented with using a flare lighting effect in some shots and the result was brilliant: it added a very dramatic and experimental effect. I wanted to add this lighting effect to the photograph to create a glamorous night time effect.
 |
| Nirvana "Lithium" album. |
Monday, 12 December 2011
Feedback from music video so far
On Wednesday the 7th of December I invited Gabriel a friend from school to view my music video so far. Over the the last few weeks the video has changed quite dramaticall, and on Monday and Tuesday I changed my introduction. My introduction was orignally shots of Camden, the lead singer , bridges and bottles of drink to introduce the world of the lead singer and also to create a grubby and shabby setting. On Monday I decided to use the shots of my lead singer walking across the cobbled stones, him posing by the wall and the bottles of drink and make this into one big shot of the three images using the cropping tool. I then used a shot of Camden and an empty bed in my introduction to create more of a narrative and suggest that Rowan wanted escapsim. I wanted Gabriel to view my video because I wanted to get an outsider's first thoughts and impression of my work. I asked Gabriel questions such as : What does the video signify to you?, What was your frist impression of the video? and What did you think of the use of effects? The answers and feedback I received from Gabriel now allows me to add more to my video and he also helped to give me an insight into how other people might view my music video.
Questions and Answers:
What was your first impression of the music video?
When I first viewed this video I thought of loneliness and depression. The video did not signify anger to me , I was mainly given the impression that it was about sadness.
What did you think of the use of effects?
I believe that the cutaway shots could definitely be longer and have more of a narrative. I liked the fading and the black and white was interesting, to me it suggested that the band was properly a past time to him or a distant memory.
Overall what does the music video signify to you?
It signifies someone very lonely who is not part of the crowd and does not have many friends or conform to soceity. The lead singer looks very soulful and reflective.
Do you think the music video fitted with the song?
Yes I did , the dark colours and gloomy effects really fitted the genre of music. The lead singer looked lost and almost trapped, which is reflected through the lyric as well.
Editing Friday the 25th
Editing Friday the 25th
This week I felt much more confident when editing. I had great footage from my shoot with Rowan in Camden. So I had more variety of shots to edit and play around with. After Jim Cole visited it was decided that I would focus on the lead singer more then the band. Therefore when choosing shots this week, I used shots of just Rowan and also chose shots of the two male band members. This week I played around and explored effects, using effects such as 'cold steel' and 'black and white'. This transported my average shots of buses, street lamps and trees into gothic and eerie shots. I also watched a series of youtube videos on final cut pro tutorials . After this I learnt how to stabalize my shots, crop my shots and create transitions. Using these new techniques my video began to look more interesting and visually pleasing to watch. I also managed to lip sync the first half of the video perfectly and I will be working on the second half during next week. When reviewing the video and my progress with my teacher, it was decided that my introduction was still too slow. So this week I will be focusing my attention on creating quicker cutaway shots. Overall I feel very happy with my progress.
This week I felt much more confident when editing. I had great footage from my shoot with Rowan in Camden. So I had more variety of shots to edit and play around with. After Jim Cole visited it was decided that I would focus on the lead singer more then the band. Therefore when choosing shots this week, I used shots of just Rowan and also chose shots of the two male band members. This week I played around and explored effects, using effects such as 'cold steel' and 'black and white'. This transported my average shots of buses, street lamps and trees into gothic and eerie shots. I also watched a series of youtube videos on final cut pro tutorials . After this I learnt how to stabalize my shots, crop my shots and create transitions. Using these new techniques my video began to look more interesting and visually pleasing to watch. I also managed to lip sync the first half of the video perfectly and I will be working on the second half during next week. When reviewing the video and my progress with my teacher, it was decided that my introduction was still too slow. So this week I will be focusing my attention on creating quicker cutaway shots. Overall I feel very happy with my progress.
Analysis for Ancillary tasks
Genre:
When looking at Gallagher's magazine advertisement it is apparent that the genre is indie/ soft rock. Indie stands for independent music that is independent from the mainstream record labels and commercialism (Sony, Universal etc). Some of the reasons why I believed the advert is of the indie genre is because it is not heavily stylised, uses dark colours and its construction to give the impression that he is going alone. There are no well known record labels such as EMI advertised on the advert. This suggests that he does not belong to the mainstream pop genre and instead is more alternative.
Representation:
Gallagher stands with his arms folded, and a serious look on his face which is partly shaded suggesting moodiness and mysteriousness. Gallagher's stance give the viewer the impression he is a strong, macho, aggressive and defensive male. This is a very stereotypicial and traditional way that he is represented. David Gauntlett, a Professor of media and communications at the University of Westminster, London and also media theorist believed that men are seen in the media as obsessed with "football, cars, drinking, music and the rock n roll lifestyle". Gauntlett studied men's magazines such as FHM, Loaded and Maxim. All of these magazines perceived men as being "macho,into sport, good at everything, skilled in all things and good in bed". The image of Gallagher fits very well into the way men are stereotyped in the media today. Gallagher's pose does indeed suggest the "Rock n Roll lifestyle" and "machoness and masculinity". Audience identification with Gallagher is that he is wearing a suit which gives you the impression he is serious about his music and also gives him a sense of maturity and formality. Gallagher appears to be in his early to mid thirtes , his age has connotations such as wisdom , knowledge and experience therefore making his music more reliable and trustworthy.
My video however goes against the male stereotype presented in Gallagher's advert and also in men's magazines. Rowan the lead singer of my video is presented as more soulful, lonely , sensitive and artistic. My video displays no football, fast cars or women but instead uses gloomy settings such as Camden. Despite my video not conforming to the stereotypical way men are seen, my video does subscribe to some aspects of the male stereotype such as the "rock n roll lifestyle".
Textual analysis
The colours of the advertisement are black and dark green. The black makes the advert appear gloomy,depressing and shadowy , it makes Gallagher appear as if he has a secret or has something to hide. The green can be linked to the supernatrual or space , the green isolates Gallagher from society. This is because Gallagher is keen to be seen as an individual and separated from his orignial band. The camera angle used is a mid shot to show his arms which are crossed in a defensive gesture. The mid shot allows the viewer to see Gallagher's body language and this is very important because it gives you the impression his music is moody and intense. The mid shot is also necessary to capture Gallagher's expression. The advert is shot at a low camera angle, the low angle gives Gallagher high status, control and suggests that the audience looks up to Gallagher and is below him. Shooting from a low angle also makes Gallagher look more intimidating and mighty.
At the top left hand side of the advert it reads "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds" in block capitials. The capitals make the title stand out more noticably and loud. The writing however is quirky the "O" in Noel's name is written in a quirky and alternative looking font. The writing is not perfectly straight this is slightly child like and tones down the aggression of the advert, it also suggests that Gallagher is not perfect and does not like many other artists conform. At the bottom of the advert is written a list of quotes from magazines such as 'The Times'. The writing is written in times new roman font so that it appears official. The advert has singled at the best quotes from some of the most well known magazines such as 'The Telegraph', therefore the viewer is more likely to buy Gallagher's music or see him in concert because a trustworthy source believes his music is good.
Theodore Adorno believed in something called "false needs". "False needs" were created by the capitalist system to replace people's true needs, such as freedom and the full expression of human potential and genuine human creativity. In other words what Adorno is communicating is that shows such as the 'X Factor' , 'Eastenders' and 'Pop Idol' distract society away from questioning the Government and how soceity is ruled. Therefore a lot of the world has become politically empathic and instead makes art not just for expression anymore but instead money. Consequently, linking this back to the advert for Gallagher, the quotes from the magazines are not only used to show off his music but also to gain him more money by attracting more viewers. Fans are more likely going to be interested in seeing Gallagher perform if he has been recommended by very superior industries. When creating my music video advertisement I am going to subscribe to the "false needs" catergory by advertising quotes by magazines and the press. It will attract more viewers, giving my band more popularity. The magazine quotes can also be tied in with another one of Adorno's theories "Commodity fetishism". This means that social relations and cultural experiences are objectified in terms of money, and we are delighted by something because of its cost. So when looking at Gallagher's advert people will be delighted to see the quotations from impressive magazines because they are financially successful companies.
Gallagher's "High Flying Birds" single
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Shooting on Tuesday 22nd November
On Tuesday the 22nd of November I did some more filming. After Jim Cole's visit it was agreed that my music video would be mainly performance based focusing on the lead singer. Therefore I had to get a larger variety of shots of only Rowan. We met in Camden outside the Roundhouse at seven thirty. We then spent two and a half hours shooting.We shot at Camden market, near the Roundhouse , Chalk Farm and Belsize Park.
Styling :
Rowan turned up to the shoot wearing a Lou Reed T-shirt , baggy jeans , blue hoody and Nike trainers. This look is very contemporary and a classic urban style which didn't need much interference. Lou Reed suggested that he was a fan of rock music which is of a similar style to my music video. The hoody created a teenage angst representation. Rowan's hair was swept back and slightly messy as if he had just left a house party or rock concert , which fitted the video's image perfectly. Rowans hoop earring and silver ring showed his individuality. Typically in Indie music videos the band members are often quite androgynous, wearing skinny jeans with long hair and tight fitting shirts and sometimes eyeliner. This especially true of the eighties scene which was one of my influences. However Rowan does not conform to any of these stereotypes but brings his own contemporary style to the set.
Technical - Camera , Shots and Lighting :
The technical equiment I used was a Sanyo Xacti film camera and a tripod. During my last shoot in Camden , I had filmed most of the shots hand held. Therefore a lot of the shots turned out shaky, so the majority of my time on final cut pro was spent stabilizing shots. So this time round I filmed everything using a tripod. We began filming at around seven thirty in the evening, the only lighting we were able to use was from the street lights and shop lights. This created a gloomy and gritty effect that looked great on camera. I filmed a lot of long shots of Rowan on wide streets , this made Rowan stand out and isolated him. I also filmed a lot of close ups to show Rowan's moody nature and attitude.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Jim Cole
Jim Cole 21st November
On the 21st of November I was paid a visit by the well known music director Jim Cole. Cole has worked with artists such as U2 and more recently he was the assistant director on the John Lewis Christmas advert.
At the start of our discussion, I introduced the concept of my music video , and spoke about the shooting process and the image I wanted to create. I also said that I did not want a narrative , however this shortly changed when I began to edit. Jim explained to me that it was not always necessary to have a narrative and instead I could create a performance based video that only focused on the lead singer. After agreeing with this choice we began to go through my rushes and mark in and out points. It was decided during the course of looking at the rushes that the out of focus or "accidental" footage was the most interesting and in some cases the most usable. We decided to drag certain rushes into the timeline and play around with effects.
Previously when editing, I had not applied any effects , or experimented with saturation or colour wheels. The most used effect that we applied to certain clips was 'coldsteel', this was a dark blue wash. The 'coldsteel' transported my shots of boring London buses into grungy, dark and alluring sights. As we continued to look through the rushes, we decided what close ups and long shots would be best to use. It was also decided that it would be a good idea to re shoot the lead singer during the evening at Camden. By deciding to re shoot, it meant I was able to get more footage of Rowan in order to make the video more of a performance base for him as the lead singer. Cole also told me to experiment with angles when filming buildings to make them appear more interesting . He explained to me that I would have to cut out a lot of footage I was already using, so we decided to cut the drummer out of the video. This was because we personally felt that she did not appear to have the right attitude like the other band members , and her presence broke the mood of the video, as she was always smiling in areas which didn't suit the song. Along with cutting the drummer we decided to cut the day time shots of the band and extras running. This was because the night time shots created a darker and moodier atmosphere. Cole told me to crop certain shots where certain members looked good , or crop shots of the band performing so that the audience could focus on Rowan. Cole gave me advice such as find strong visual and static shots.
Jim Cole's visit made me feel more confident and I feel I can now create a strong and visually pleasing video.
Jim Cole's John Lewis Christmas Advert
On the 21st of November I was paid a visit by the well known music director Jim Cole. Cole has worked with artists such as U2 and more recently he was the assistant director on the John Lewis Christmas advert.
At the start of our discussion, I introduced the concept of my music video , and spoke about the shooting process and the image I wanted to create. I also said that I did not want a narrative , however this shortly changed when I began to edit. Jim explained to me that it was not always necessary to have a narrative and instead I could create a performance based video that only focused on the lead singer. After agreeing with this choice we began to go through my rushes and mark in and out points. It was decided during the course of looking at the rushes that the out of focus or "accidental" footage was the most interesting and in some cases the most usable. We decided to drag certain rushes into the timeline and play around with effects.
Previously when editing, I had not applied any effects , or experimented with saturation or colour wheels. The most used effect that we applied to certain clips was 'coldsteel', this was a dark blue wash. The 'coldsteel' transported my shots of boring London buses into grungy, dark and alluring sights. As we continued to look through the rushes, we decided what close ups and long shots would be best to use. It was also decided that it would be a good idea to re shoot the lead singer during the evening at Camden. By deciding to re shoot, it meant I was able to get more footage of Rowan in order to make the video more of a performance base for him as the lead singer. Cole also told me to experiment with angles when filming buildings to make them appear more interesting . He explained to me that I would have to cut out a lot of footage I was already using, so we decided to cut the drummer out of the video. This was because we personally felt that she did not appear to have the right attitude like the other band members , and her presence broke the mood of the video, as she was always smiling in areas which didn't suit the song. Along with cutting the drummer we decided to cut the day time shots of the band and extras running. This was because the night time shots created a darker and moodier atmosphere. Cole told me to crop certain shots where certain members looked good , or crop shots of the band performing so that the audience could focus on Rowan. Cole gave me advice such as find strong visual and static shots.
Jim Cole's visit made me feel more confident and I feel I can now create a strong and visually pleasing video.
Jim Cole's John Lewis Christmas Advert
Monday, 14 November 2011
Shooting on Friday the 5th
Shooting on Friday 5th of November
On Friday, 5th of November I filmed the second part of my music video in Camden Town during the evening. The filming began at five in the afternoon. The first hour was shot in the guest bedroom in my house. The guest bedroom is very plain with white walls and little funiture. I shot Rowan lying on the bed whilst singing. This gave the audience the impression that Rowan was reflective and melancholy. After shooting this we headed to Camden at around six 'o' clock. During the trip to Camden on the bus I filmed the band sitting as a group looking outside of the window. When we arrived at Camden I took a variation of shots around the market. Some of the band stood by the canal, at cafe tables and by market stools. Camden Market is known for being edgy and alternative therefore it was the perfect location to film my band. The shoot finished at eight 'o' clock.
Breakdown of the Basement Party shoot :
Styling : I chose Camden as my location because it's grungy and world renowned as a place to shop for quirky and alternative fashion. Camden also possesses a lively nightlife with bars and venues for bands that play edgy and punky gigs. The cobbled stones, old statues and market stalls create an old and gothic vibe, especially at night. Camden is a well known hangout place for young crowds and teenagers, therefore the band blended in perfectly into the surroundings. When we began filming in Camden it was already dark therefore the dim lights of the market stalls, and fluorescent street lights created interesting and unusual lighting on film. This matched the unusual and quirky image of the band. Before we headed to Camden I filmed in the spare bedroom. I chose this location because of its white walls and basic layout. Its basic layout and plain white walls made Rowan stand out. It was also a very melodramatic setting. I decided I wanted Rowan to be lying down on the bed as this is a common trait belonging to teenagers who are known for their oversleeping and lazy behaviour. It also suggested a kind of isolation and inertia.
Hair and Make up :
Before the band members showed up they did their hair and makeup themselves, based on the make up we did for the first shoot. Sarah the only female band member wore dark eyeliner and eye shadow whilst the boys wore a light coating of foundation to hide blemishes. The clothing the band wore was similar to the outfits they wore on the first shoot with checkered shirts and darkly coloured hoodies. The clothes fitted the bands unusual image and blended in perfectly with the alternative settings of Camden.
Technical :
The camera I used for the shoot was a Sanyo Xacti photo and film camera and a tripod. For the majority of the shoot I shot handheld and used the tripod for filming close up shots of the lead singer at bars and cafes. The handheld shots were slightly shaky. This created a slightly surreal and drunken effect. I used quick zooms when shooting Rowan in the bedroom , because Rowan was lying down on the bed when I shot him in the spare bedroom I wanted to use close ups so the audience could see his melancholic and moody expressions.
Thoughts and reflections:
Overall I was pleased with how the shoot turned out. I believe I got some interesting and very useable shots. However If I could redo the shoot I would have used the tripod more as some shots were out of focus. Despite wanting something reflecting confusion the out of focus shots just appeared blurred.
On Friday, 5th of November I filmed the second part of my music video in Camden Town during the evening. The filming began at five in the afternoon. The first hour was shot in the guest bedroom in my house. The guest bedroom is very plain with white walls and little funiture. I shot Rowan lying on the bed whilst singing. This gave the audience the impression that Rowan was reflective and melancholy. After shooting this we headed to Camden at around six 'o' clock. During the trip to Camden on the bus I filmed the band sitting as a group looking outside of the window. When we arrived at Camden I took a variation of shots around the market. Some of the band stood by the canal, at cafe tables and by market stools. Camden Market is known for being edgy and alternative therefore it was the perfect location to film my band. The shoot finished at eight 'o' clock.
 |
| Camden Town |
Breakdown of the Basement Party shoot :
Styling : I chose Camden as my location because it's grungy and world renowned as a place to shop for quirky and alternative fashion. Camden also possesses a lively nightlife with bars and venues for bands that play edgy and punky gigs. The cobbled stones, old statues and market stalls create an old and gothic vibe, especially at night. Camden is a well known hangout place for young crowds and teenagers, therefore the band blended in perfectly into the surroundings. When we began filming in Camden it was already dark therefore the dim lights of the market stalls, and fluorescent street lights created interesting and unusual lighting on film. This matched the unusual and quirky image of the band. Before we headed to Camden I filmed in the spare bedroom. I chose this location because of its white walls and basic layout. Its basic layout and plain white walls made Rowan stand out. It was also a very melodramatic setting. I decided I wanted Rowan to be lying down on the bed as this is a common trait belonging to teenagers who are known for their oversleeping and lazy behaviour. It also suggested a kind of isolation and inertia.
Hair and Make up :
Before the band members showed up they did their hair and makeup themselves, based on the make up we did for the first shoot. Sarah the only female band member wore dark eyeliner and eye shadow whilst the boys wore a light coating of foundation to hide blemishes. The clothing the band wore was similar to the outfits they wore on the first shoot with checkered shirts and darkly coloured hoodies. The clothes fitted the bands unusual image and blended in perfectly with the alternative settings of Camden.
Technical :
The camera I used for the shoot was a Sanyo Xacti photo and film camera and a tripod. For the majority of the shoot I shot handheld and used the tripod for filming close up shots of the lead singer at bars and cafes. The handheld shots were slightly shaky. This created a slightly surreal and drunken effect. I used quick zooms when shooting Rowan in the bedroom , because Rowan was lying down on the bed when I shot him in the spare bedroom I wanted to use close ups so the audience could see his melancholic and moody expressions.
Thoughts and reflections:
Overall I was pleased with how the shoot turned out. I believe I got some interesting and very useable shots. However If I could redo the shoot I would have used the tripod more as some shots were out of focus. Despite wanting something reflecting confusion the out of focus shots just appeared blurred.
Editing so far ( November 7th-11th)
Editing so far November 7th -November 11th
On the week of November the 7th I uploaded my film onto Final Cut Pro and began editing. I began by putting the best shot of my band performing in the studio onto Final Cut Pro. I then went through my shots and decided which shots I would use as cut aways from my band performing. At the start of the song the introduction features quick beats, which I thought was perfect for a montage of quick images of the band.
I used images of the band on the bus, running down the street and playing their instruments. I chose these images because they are fast paced and show the band interacting as a unique and lively group. Over the week I also tried to match the lead singer's lip syncing to the song which I uploaded onto Final Cut Pro. This proved to be very difficult and this is still a work in progress. I went through my shots and decided which ones were useable and which ones weren't. At the end of the week I sat with my teacher and discussed my work so far. When reviewing it, it was decided that the lip syncing needed to be matched more accurately and the opening shots needed to be shorter and replaced with more focus shots. Next week I plan to work on my opening more and also keep developing the lip syncing and create more of a narrative.
On the week of November the 7th I uploaded my film onto Final Cut Pro and began editing. I began by putting the best shot of my band performing in the studio onto Final Cut Pro. I then went through my shots and decided which shots I would use as cut aways from my band performing. At the start of the song the introduction features quick beats, which I thought was perfect for a montage of quick images of the band.
I used images of the band on the bus, running down the street and playing their instruments. I chose these images because they are fast paced and show the band interacting as a unique and lively group. Over the week I also tried to match the lead singer's lip syncing to the song which I uploaded onto Final Cut Pro. This proved to be very difficult and this is still a work in progress. I went through my shots and decided which ones were useable and which ones weren't. At the end of the week I sat with my teacher and discussed my work so far. When reviewing it, it was decided that the lip syncing needed to be matched more accurately and the opening shots needed to be shorter and replaced with more focus shots. Next week I plan to work on my opening more and also keep developing the lip syncing and create more of a narrative.
 |
| Screen shot of editing so far |
Monday, 7 November 2011
Casting
Casting
 |
Rowan Edwards
Rowan Edwards attends The King Alfred school in Golders Green and is currently studying music in his first year of sixth form. Rowan was the perfect choice for my lead singer because he wrote and sang the song, so as well as being good at lip synching he would more importantly understand the emotions and feelings behind the song. Rowan is also a confident performer who sings regurlarly. Rowan's image fitted the song perfectly. He has a confident attitude and his style suggests someone who is independent minded and individual . Rowan's pale skin and light hair were juxtaposed against the setting and location, making him appear quirky and edgy on film. Fortunately as well as being a skilled songwriter he is also very sociable and worked well with the entire cast and crew.
John Joe
John Joe is currently studying at UCS Boys' School in Hampstead. John Joe has been a dedicated guitarist for a number of years. This made him stand out when choosing my lead guitarist. Due to John Joe's musicial talents he was able to perform convincingly and realistically when playing the guitar. John Joe is a comfortable performer who has paricipated in many of his school productions. His music taste sits within the genre of Rowan's song therefore he was to able to have a creative input in the making and styling of the video. John Joe also has a look which makes him stand out in a crowd, his red hair melding well with the band's image.
Ruari Duval Smith
Ruari is currently studying at Christ College In London. Ruari is a student and model and he has also participated in school productions. Ruari was perfect for the video because his striking looks gave him individuality. Ruari's fashion sense and music taste is similar to the image I gave the band therefore he fitted into the surroundings perfectly.
Sarah Brostromer Igwe
Sarah goes to Hornsey school for girls she has a lively and bubbly personality. Having a female presence in the band softened the look. She also acted as a heart throb for the male audience and a role model for the female viewers. Sarah always performs comfortably with confidence and attitude.
Rowan Edwards attends The King Alfred school in Golders Green and is currently studying music in his first year of sixth form. Rowan was the perfect choice for my lead singer because he wrote and sang the song, so as well as being good at lip synching he would more importantly understand the emotions and feelings behind the song. Rowan is also a confident performer who sings regurlarly. Rowan's image fitted the song perfectly. He has a confident attitude and his style suggests someone who is independent minded and individual . Rowan's pale skin and light hair were juxtaposed against the setting and location, making him appear quirky and edgy on film. Fortunately as well as being a skilled songwriter he is also very sociable and worked well with the entire cast and crew.
John Joe
John Joe is currently studying at UCS Boys' School in Hampstead. John Joe has been a dedicated guitarist for a number of years. This made him stand out when choosing my lead guitarist. Due to John Joe's musicial talents he was able to perform convincingly and realistically when playing the guitar. John Joe is a comfortable performer who has paricipated in many of his school productions. His music taste sits within the genre of Rowan's song therefore he was to able to have a creative input in the making and styling of the video. John Joe also has a look which makes him stand out in a crowd, his red hair melding well with the band's image.
Ruari Duval Smith
Ruari is currently studying at Christ College In London. Ruari is a student and model and he has also participated in school productions. Ruari was perfect for the video because his striking looks gave him individuality. Ruari's fashion sense and music taste is similar to the image I gave the band therefore he fitted into the surroundings perfectly.
Sarah Brostromer Igwe
Sarah goes to Hornsey school for girls she has a lively and bubbly personality. Having a female presence in the band softened the look. She also acted as a heart throb for the male audience and a role model for the female viewers. Sarah always performs comfortably with confidence and attitude.
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Potential album covers for Basement Party
Practice shots for CD cover:
Proxemics:
This potential ablum photograph shows that my band are standing close together with my lead singer stood slightly forward then the rest of the band members. This arrangement is similar to the cover of Hole's ablum Celebrity Skin.This closeness suggests that the band are friendly with one another and it also portrays togetherness. I chose to place the lead singer slightly in front of the other band members because it suggests that he is the driving force of the band and also highlights his talent as a singer/songwriter. However on the cover of Hole's ablum Courtney Cox the lead singer is in equal stance with the rest of her band members , despite this her skimpy clothing in comparsion to her other fully dressed band members make her more noticable then the others. The closeness in my bands photograph gives the impression that the artists are serious about their music and work as a group.
Body Language:
The body language in my bands potential album cover suggests confidence and attitude. The lead singers crossed arms signifies that he is to be taken seriously and so is his music. This image is strong because they are all looking at the camera in a direct way. The composition of the band shows unity and consciousness of their image. The two guitarists wear black which frames the lead singer and adds strength to his position. The female presence in the photo softens the image adding interest.
Facial expression
The guitarists and lead singer have a very alpha male look which is both intimidating and attractive. They make eye contact and whilst they are very serious they do not appear threatening. I wanted the band to appear intense and intelligent. This would give an impression of their music and hopefully attract fans. The moody facial expressions matches the teenage angst theme which runs throughout the
Lighting
The light I used for the music video and potential album photographs was a tripod mounted directional light. Apart from this light the rest of the basement was in darkness. When taking the album cover photographs I positioned the light slightly away from the band , this amount of light worked perfectly as it highlighted the band and also created slight shadows in the background. Before taking the photographs I experimented with positioning the light discovering that facing it directly onto the band over exposed the bands faces and did not create the moody atmosphere I was after. I used flash photography adding rawness and contrast to the photograph.
Costume
The clothing in the photograph is casual , modern and stylish. The checkers on the lead singer, guitarists shirt and drummers skirt give the outifts a punkish twist. The bass guitarist dressed in dark colours suggests moodieness. Overall the colours the band are wearing depressng. I chose to style my band this way as it shows how they do not conform to the high stylised bands such as The Wanted. The laid back clothing gives the audience the impression that they care more about their music then their image.
What does this say overall about my bands representation:
Overall the lack of colour in the clothing , the dimly lit photograph and their serious facial expressions give the band a fierce and grungy look. The band look like individuals and deidicated to their music.
Proxemics:
This potential ablum photograph shows that my band are standing close together with my lead singer stood slightly forward then the rest of the band members. This arrangement is similar to the cover of Hole's ablum Celebrity Skin.This closeness suggests that the band are friendly with one another and it also portrays togetherness. I chose to place the lead singer slightly in front of the other band members because it suggests that he is the driving force of the band and also highlights his talent as a singer/songwriter. However on the cover of Hole's ablum Courtney Cox the lead singer is in equal stance with the rest of her band members , despite this her skimpy clothing in comparsion to her other fully dressed band members make her more noticable then the others. The closeness in my bands photograph gives the impression that the artists are serious about their music and work as a group.
Body Language:
The body language in my bands potential album cover suggests confidence and attitude. The lead singers crossed arms signifies that he is to be taken seriously and so is his music. This image is strong because they are all looking at the camera in a direct way. The composition of the band shows unity and consciousness of their image. The two guitarists wear black which frames the lead singer and adds strength to his position. The female presence in the photo softens the image adding interest.
Facial expression
The guitarists and lead singer have a very alpha male look which is both intimidating and attractive. They make eye contact and whilst they are very serious they do not appear threatening. I wanted the band to appear intense and intelligent. This would give an impression of their music and hopefully attract fans. The moody facial expressions matches the teenage angst theme which runs throughout the
Lighting
The light I used for the music video and potential album photographs was a tripod mounted directional light. Apart from this light the rest of the basement was in darkness. When taking the album cover photographs I positioned the light slightly away from the band , this amount of light worked perfectly as it highlighted the band and also created slight shadows in the background. Before taking the photographs I experimented with positioning the light discovering that facing it directly onto the band over exposed the bands faces and did not create the moody atmosphere I was after. I used flash photography adding rawness and contrast to the photograph.
Costume
The clothing in the photograph is casual , modern and stylish. The checkers on the lead singer, guitarists shirt and drummers skirt give the outifts a punkish twist. The bass guitarist dressed in dark colours suggests moodieness. Overall the colours the band are wearing depressng. I chose to style my band this way as it shows how they do not conform to the high stylised bands such as The Wanted. The laid back clothing gives the audience the impression that they care more about their music then their image.
 |
| The Wanted a heavily stylised band. |
What does this say overall about my bands representation:
Overall the lack of colour in the clothing , the dimly lit photograph and their serious facial expressions give the band a fierce and grungy look. The band look like individuals and deidicated to their music.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Music Video Concepts
Music video concepts
Tube station:
One of my concepts for my music video was filimg in tube stations around London. Tube stations are busy and crowded places creating an intense atmopshere which matches the vibe and mood of the song.Setting my music video in a station would be perfect for capturing different and interesting shots as tube stations have dark tunnels ,long platforms and are full of people from all over the world.Tube stations are slightly eerie and at sometimes surreal with the loud train noises pounding through the walls and the large amounts of bustling people going and coming. The surreal and eerieness of the tube station compliments the sounds of the singers quirky,deep voice and the synthesia used in the instrumentation of the song. If I decide to not feature a band in my music video and instead only focus on the lead singer being a solo artist a tube station would be a great location. Another concept I have thought of was to use intertextuality in my video ,making references to the well known films Twilight and Romeo and Juilet. Edward Cullen the main character in Twilight is a misunderstood and isolated character before he meets Bella Swan. I have chosen to focus on Edward in the openning scenes of Twilight , where is looking down upon for being different. My solo artist would be very much like Edward misrepresented and not understood. The tube station would be excellent for my concept of a solo artist , as tube stations can be daunting and intimadating at times . This signifying to the audience that the singer is very much alone and is vunerable. The song suggests the singer has lost a love or may be suffering from some emotional pain ,the isolated and slient train carriage emphasises the emotional feelings the singer has. Filiming on a tube carriage would be perfect ,making the artist /band stand out from the crowd which matchs the unusal song. Waiting on a tube station platform is a good way to start the music video as many ideas and stories can be based around this. For example the lead singer or band are waiting the arrival of someone , the singer misses his train or the waiting might symbolise the boredom and fustration the band /singer is currently enduring in their life. The lighting is perfect for filming the music video , the dim florescent lights create a chilled and mellow atmosphere which compliments the mood of the song.
The Eighties:
The song's drum loop and synthesizer featured in the instrumentation is similar to '80s music, however the song has a grungy modern twist. I thought the '80s era would be an interesting theme for the video , with the unusual elaborate makeup, fashion sense and quirky images. When researching the '80s I looked at videos by artists such as The Breeders, Pearl Jam, hole, Nirvana and The Human League. I was inspired by all of the videos however I particularly liked The Human League video "Don't you want me baby?". I liked the mise en scene of the video, the bright and colourful makeup and long brown coat the female lead singer wore. I also liked the camrea work , especially the close up shot of the male lead singer at the start and the longshot of the female lead walking through the streets with the nightime behind her.
My song sounds very relaxed and mellow ,therefore filming in a dimly lit studio,by street lamps or candles would complement the vibe of the song. The dimly lit school gymnasium in Nirvana's "Smells like Teen Spirit" has also very much inspired my idea for choice of setting , I love the smoky washed out yellow lighting. Many eighties videos feature school proms, dance halls and gymnasisms , I would very much like to recreate one of these retro and old school settings. I very much like the style of eighties clothing , lots of bracelts ,eyeliner , long coats ,leather jackets and long necklaces. However I would like to modernise this with some pieces of clothing from my generation , I think a mixture of eighties clothes and the clothes we wear today would be an interesting choice of wardrobe to explore and experiment with. The floresuent lights in "Gary Numan's" video " Cars" might be a potentail lighting concept , I also liked some of the camrea tecniques for example during the middle of the video the camrea zooms into Numans face ,which might be a good idea to feature in my video to show the singer's emotions or feelings during the song.
Romeo and Juilet/Twilight
One of my other ideas for a music video is using intertexuality ( making references to well know films or Tv series ). My idea for intertextual references are 'Romeo and Juliet', a film produced in 1996 directed by Baz Luhrmann, and 'Twilight' directed by Catherine Hardwicke and made in 2008. Both films represent two very misunderstood and otherwordly young males which is how I would essentially like my lead male singer to be. I would like to represent him therefore as someone who is alone, isolated and perhaps does not conform to society's expectations. Through styling, the connotations of appearance, mise en scene and locations I believe will give my music video a dark, atmospheric feel and also create a sense of mystery for the audience. My target teenage audience (14-18) would be able to identify easily with the lead singer as they are able to connect with this archetypal, quietly rebellious misfit.
Monday, 31 October 2011
Overview of music video shoot 29th October 2011
Overview:
Shooting took place at the Jenny Packham studio in Gospel Oak. The shoot began at 9am and finished at 3pm. When the cast and crew arrived, a total of twelve people , we got started with hair and makeup which took around an hour . All of the instruments were then set up in the basement downstairs. Everyone went to the basement for a short rehearsal where we decided on blocking and lighting issues.After this we filmed two complete run throughs with the band , Basement Party, till we felt ready for the final shoot. The majority of the day was spent on filming according to my storyboard. Obviously I had to feed the talent and the crew, so after a short break we then moved upstairs to film in the studio.
We did some outside shooting on the streets of Gospel Oak and at the bus stop. The shoot finished successfully at 3pm.
Video breakdown:
Styling:
One of the reasons I chose this location was to create a run down and neglected atmopshere. After looking at several venues the basement proved the perfect location. The basement's washed out walls, dim lighting and tight spacing matched the band's grungy and edgy look. Amps and guitar wires were spread out across the floor to create a messy and careless look that fitted the teenage angst feel which was part of the band's representation.
Hair and makeup took around an hour. Girls wore dark eyeshadow and lipstick whilst boys had messy gelled hair.Three of the band members wore a checkered pattern which made them appear slightly punky whislt the bass guitarist wore a leather jacket and black hoodie. To create a club like atmosphere I had small groups of girls dancing on either side of the band. The dancers/groupies wore dark clothing , baggy tshirts and leather to match the image of the band.
Technical - Camera, Shots and Lighting:
The technical equiment I used to film the shoot was a Sanyo Xacti photo and film camrea , a tripod and a dolly. I used the tripod for the majority of my shoot to keep the camera positioned. I used the dolly when filming a midshot of the band. I used close ups to highlight my lead singer. I experimented with different camera angles such as filming upside down to create a surreal image which suggested perhaps drunkeness or teenage confusion. To juxtapose this I shot up from the floor to make the band appear intimidating and powerful. When filming in the studio I zoomed in on different band members , isolating them to show them interacting in pairs or threes. Shaky camera shots combined with quick zooms were intended to lend an air of unconventionality which is often seen in grunge music videos.
The lighting used was a tripod mounted directional light. I placed this to light the whole band but when the lead guitarist tilted the guitar upwards the reflected glare created a visual flare of light back to the camera. Similarly, a mini lamp was used to highlight the band's faces when they were lined up against a dark wall , effectively isolating their faces. The contrast between the dark interior, lit only by directional light with the shots taken outside in natural daylight complemented the lyrics and interaction of the band members. When outside the action was more energectic with shots of them running , laughing and jumping.
Thoughts and Reflections:
Overall I am very happy with the way the shoot turned out. I still have another day of shooting to come. I loved the location and I'm very pleased with the mood and atmosphere created by the lighting and location in particular. I was very lucky to recruit a singer/songwriter to perform in his own music video as I think this lent an air of authenticity to the emotion of the song. If I were to do this again I would probably have spent more time on styling and costumes to consolidate the look of the band. It was difficult to get all members of the cast together before the shoot and I realise that on a professional project more time is needed in advance with the cast and crew to check on little details like shirt patterns etc.
Shooting took place at the Jenny Packham studio in Gospel Oak. The shoot began at 9am and finished at 3pm. When the cast and crew arrived, a total of twelve people , we got started with hair and makeup which took around an hour . All of the instruments were then set up in the basement downstairs. Everyone went to the basement for a short rehearsal where we decided on blocking and lighting issues.After this we filmed two complete run throughs with the band , Basement Party, till we felt ready for the final shoot. The majority of the day was spent on filming according to my storyboard. Obviously I had to feed the talent and the crew, so after a short break we then moved upstairs to film in the studio.
 |
| Time for a break |
 |
| The Band - Basement Party |
Styling:
One of the reasons I chose this location was to create a run down and neglected atmopshere. After looking at several venues the basement proved the perfect location. The basement's washed out walls, dim lighting and tight spacing matched the band's grungy and edgy look. Amps and guitar wires were spread out across the floor to create a messy and careless look that fitted the teenage angst feel which was part of the band's representation.
 |
| Potential CD cover |
 |
| First rehearsal |
Hair and makeup took around an hour. Girls wore dark eyeshadow and lipstick whilst boys had messy gelled hair.Three of the band members wore a checkered pattern which made them appear slightly punky whislt the bass guitarist wore a leather jacket and black hoodie. To create a club like atmosphere I had small groups of girls dancing on either side of the band. The dancers/groupies wore dark clothing , baggy tshirts and leather to match the image of the band.
Technical - Camera, Shots and Lighting:
The technical equiment I used to film the shoot was a Sanyo Xacti photo and film camrea , a tripod and a dolly. I used the tripod for the majority of my shoot to keep the camera positioned. I used the dolly when filming a midshot of the band. I used close ups to highlight my lead singer. I experimented with different camera angles such as filming upside down to create a surreal image which suggested perhaps drunkeness or teenage confusion. To juxtapose this I shot up from the floor to make the band appear intimidating and powerful. When filming in the studio I zoomed in on different band members , isolating them to show them interacting in pairs or threes. Shaky camera shots combined with quick zooms were intended to lend an air of unconventionality which is often seen in grunge music videos.
The lighting used was a tripod mounted directional light. I placed this to light the whole band but when the lead guitarist tilted the guitar upwards the reflected glare created a visual flare of light back to the camera. Similarly, a mini lamp was used to highlight the band's faces when they were lined up against a dark wall , effectively isolating their faces. The contrast between the dark interior, lit only by directional light with the shots taken outside in natural daylight complemented the lyrics and interaction of the band members. When outside the action was more energectic with shots of them running , laughing and jumping.
Thoughts and Reflections:
Overall I am very happy with the way the shoot turned out. I still have another day of shooting to come. I loved the location and I'm very pleased with the mood and atmosphere created by the lighting and location in particular. I was very lucky to recruit a singer/songwriter to perform in his own music video as I think this lent an air of authenticity to the emotion of the song. If I were to do this again I would probably have spent more time on styling and costumes to consolidate the look of the band. It was difficult to get all members of the cast together before the shoot and I realise that on a professional project more time is needed in advance with the cast and crew to check on little details like shirt patterns etc.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)